Original subtitles

♪

-Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪

-They're making pretty good time.

50 miles, 5 days.

-It should be us down there, instead of him.

-Holtz, haven't you been on enough drives in your life?

-I swear if -- No offense, Mr. Charron,

but I'll be switched if I can read you.

-Yeah, well, that's a fact.

-You've got something goin'.

-I reckon I'll ride down there and give Cumberledge my regards.

-I knew it!

We'll run that herd clear to Mexico.

I'll get the boy! -Now, wait a minute.

I'm going alone.

-Alone?

-Unless you want to ride along?

-Mr. Charron, you could get killed riding in there.

-Oh, I don't reckon old Luke would shoot me.

Besides, it might be worth the risk just to needle him.

Hyah! Come on!

♪

-That's John Charron!

Let's move!

-Easy, Holtz.

Don't start nothin' we can't finish!

-Cumberledge!

Cumberledge!

John Charron!

John Charron's riding in over yonder!

-He alone?

-Yeah, except for that foreman of his.

-Hyah! Hyah!

Hi, Luke!

-John.

-No one asked you to light.

-Colorado's a little low this year.

Spring runoff come early.

-So they tell me.

-The last man that pointed a loaded gun at me,

they buried him an hour later.

-What do you want?

-Oh, I just come around to say hello.

-Well, you said it.

-Tell me something, Luke.

Who's gonna settle down first?

Them skitterish hands of yours or them scrub country cattle

that you took off my land?

-Hell, come to think of it, they was pretty scrawny.

They way I figure it, you didn't give 'em enough water.

-Hmm.

Well, it's a long way up to Kansas.

We won't hold you.

Hyah! Hyah!

-He ain't beat yet, Mr. Cumberledge.

Or, if he is, he sure ain't gonna lay down.

-You think you've got to tell me that?

I've known him all my life.

-Hyah! Hyah!

-Phew, you've got something going,

and Cumberledge smells it. -Yeah? I want him to.

Give him something to think about on those long,

lonely nights on the trail.

Mm.

I'm just sorry it has to all end in Dodge City.

-Yeah.

-Matt Dillon and I are old, old friends.

Hyah!

Hyah!

♪

-Nothing like a big cattle drive to get folks a-stirring.

-Big drive means big money, Blair.

-Money? Money to be made in Dodge?

They're lucky we stopped by.

Maybe we'll get ourselves some.

Well, Marshal Dillon.

-What are you doing here?

-Well, me and my friends have been riding a spell.

Figured to rest a few days.

Just passin' through, Marshal.

-Glad to hear it.

Keep out of trouble.

-Just passin' through, peaceful.

As a Kansas twister.

[ Gunshots ]

-Hey! -Hey!

-Festus! -Where you been?

[ All talking at once ]

-Hey, you're a sight for sore eyes, Festus.

-Matthew, it sure is good to see you.

-Coming in, Marshal! -They're on their way, Marshal!

-Boys, quiet down a minute here, now.

-Hey, fellers, just simmer down now.

I got important business with Matthew.

-What in the thunder are you trying to do?

Start a riot here, coming in here shooting a gun in the air?

-Hold on now!

-Matthew, old Luke Cumberledge is just what you said he was.

Half wolf, half alligator and all man.

-How many cows he got?

-Why, more head than you've ever saw.

More than anybody's ever saw.

Matthew, them cattle strung out clear

from the Cimarron clean back to Wolf Creek.

-From the Cimarron? They won't be

in here till next week. What do you...

-I know that, Doc. -Well, then, we're gonna

have to wait another week if they back to Cimarron.

[ All talking at once ]

-It's a good thing that I rode down yonder,

like I done, because the Comanche's

killed a whole passel of Cumberledge's cowboys.

Now, he's offering $2 a day for any man

that will go out yonder and come back that last 80 miles.

-$2 a day?

-We'll --we'll -- we'll be there.

-Festus. -Get your stuff ready.

We're leaving first light in the morning.

-What about John Charron's herd?

-He ain't got no herd, Matt. He ain't got a single cow.

-He doesn't?

-No, Cumberledge bought him plumb out.

-What? -Yeah, he says he's finally

got the kibosh on him for good and for all this time.

-Well, there's something wrong with that.

Those two have fought over half of Texas for the last 10 years.

-I'll tell you something,

when two men want the same thing, somebody's gonna lose,

I'll tell --

[ Hoofbeats ]

-That's John Charron.

-Put 'em up!

-Ju-- just hold on there now, partner.

I mean, you don't give a man much of a chance.

-You willing to square off, mister?

-You mean I got a choice? -Yes, sir.

Fight or turn tail.

-Well, now, that -- that's a hard doing for a Texas man.

-Let's see how good you are then, Texas man.

I'm gonna count to three.

One.

Two. And...

-Hold on a minute here, now.

What's going on here?

-Just a fair fight, Marshal.

I'm calling him out.

-How many times I told you there's no gunfighting

in Dodge City limits?

-It was a thing needed doing, Marshal!

-I see.

All right. Hand over your gun.

You can pick it up just before you leave town, partner.

-Whatever you say, lawman.

-I was just, uh, defending my life, Marshal.

Kind of good thing you come along.

Matt, how are you? Good to see you.

-By golly, good to see you.

-Ought to be more than every couple of years,

I do declare. -I guess.

Here, you remember Doc and Festus.

-Hey, Doc, yes, sir. Festus, how are you?

So, tell me something, is the whiskey as good in here

as it ever was? -Oh, the best there is.

-Well, then why don't y'all just come on and sample a splash

or two with me, huh? -Sounds good.

Second round's on me.

-Well, the third one's mine.

-Well, let's get started.

-He don't ever change, does he?

Hey, Sam! Set 'em up over here.

Pretty girl, see that none of my men have an empty glass,

will ya? That's right.

Let's all sit down here, now.

-Good to see you, John.

-Oh, thank you very much.

Well, that's it.

That's the way, Sam.

There we go.

Hey, is Miss Kitty here?

-Oh, she took some sewing out to Maggie's house,

but she'll be back right away.

-Oh, good. She still pretty as ever?

-Oh, prettier. -Oh, couldn't be.

-You wait and see her.

-There you are, gents.

-Hey, Sam, you have one on me now, you hear me?

-Oh, thank you, Mr. Charron.

-Oh, Matthew. All right, here's to you, Matt.

-Looking at you, John.

-Would you believe that big galoot

turned down a partnership with me?

Yep, to provide target practice

for a bunch of saddle bums and bank robbers.

And he's been at it all these years, too.

-Well, I want to tell you something 'bout him.

This is not generally known, but he's not quite right

in the head, you know.

-Well, I'll tell you, I've figured this job

was safer than that one.

-Yeah, well, I can't say I agree with the decision,

but I sure did always admire him.

-Hey, John. I want to ask you something.

Now this fella here lies a little once in a while.

And he says that that herd coming in is the biggest thing

he ever saw. Is that right?

-Yeah, well, for once he told you the truth.

At least, it's the biggest herd I ever saw.

I can tell you that, Doc. -All right.

What'd I tell you, smart aleck?

-Well.

-Now, John, I understand you don't have a drive this year.

-Oh, yeah, that's right.

Well, Luke dealt himself all the aces this time.

He'd been herding up that trail in over a year.

He's seen to that.

Price of beef sky-high.

He's been buying up every head he could lay his hands on.

Of course, he had to go into hock from here to breakfast

to do it.

-Well, it sounds like you let him get the upper hand on you.

But I know you better than that.

-Yeah, that you do.

-Well, what's going on, John?

-What do you mean? -Well, everybody

knows about the feud between you and Luke Cumberledge.

And I know you. You didn't come to Dodge City

just to watch him gloat over his success.

-Oh, I wouldn't try to tell you anything like that.

But, now, look, what are we sitting here spoiling

a perfectly nice day for, uh, jawing about Luke Cumberledge?

I come up here to drink and visit with some old friends.

How about that? Anybody got any objections?

-Not on your old tintype.

-Just pour the whiskey, that's just the way to do it.

-All right. -That's the way.

♪

-Mr. Laskin?

-Marshal.

Fine-looking animal, isn't he?

-Yeah, he sure is. Are you gonna buy him?

-Yeah, when I heard Hank's asking price,

I couldn't pass him up.

-Are you getting a good buy? -Yeah.

Anyway, what I'm paying for Cumberledge's herd,

a couple hundred more won't make any difference.

-No, I guess not.

-Well, the big day is drawing closer.

I suspect you'll be just as glad when it's all over, huh?

-Yeah, you're pretty close to the mark there.

-Commercial progress, Marshal.

You have to admit it's well worth a little trouble,

an economic boost like this.

-Well, I'll tell you,

maybe you wouldn't mind putting on a deputy's badge

and help me out when they bring this economic boost in.

-All right, Marshal.

No more speeches. -Well, it's a funny thing.

You know, a few years back,

Hutchinson was a nice, quiet little town.

Then they brought in a big herd like this, drovers.

I think there was three dead, half the town burned.

-I don't envy you your job.

However, I think everything will be fine.

Cumberledge won't let things get out of hand.

-Wish I could be sure of that. Say, I've gotta get goin'.

Would you, uh -- Would you mind telling Hank

he's got a loose shoe?

-Glad to, Marshal. -Thank you.

-Hush -- hush -- hush up!

Hush up! Now, listen!

Now, you fellers straighten up over yonder.

-Yeah!

-We're fixing to go cattle driving.

Don't you forget who's in charge here now.

You're gettin' $2 a day for this drive.

Now, straighten up, or --

Fred, throw away that whiskey now.

We ain't gonna have you

showing up out yonder stewed to the gills

and falling out of your saddle.

Now, I mean it.

Archie!

Archie, you ain't a-fixing to ride this here ole stabbin' pig

on no cattle drive.

Now, go get yourself some decent horseflesh or you ain't going.

Now, get! Go on!

Now, ladies, you're gonna have to move back please.

If you please, ma'am.

Where in the tarnation's Arnie Moran now?!

We're fixing to ride out of here directly,

and anybody that gets left behind

just plain old ain't a-goin'.

That's all there are to it.

Fred, I told you to get rid of that hooch now,

and I mean it.

You ain't gonna go out there with your just booze

and think...

Now, I'm in charge here.

I don't want you to forget it.

When I tell you the whole fact,

he's brought across the back.

And don't you forget it neither!

[ Speaking indistinctly ]

-Oh, if you see the boys around,

tell them just to relax and enjoy themselves.

-They're itching to get this thing over with.

-Hmm.

Well, they're just gonna have to sit and scratch for a spell.

And I don't want them gettin' in no trouble.

-Hush up! Hush up! Hush! Hush!

Everybody hush now!

We're fixing to ride out of here directly,

and we're gonna ride out of here

like we had brains enough to know which way we're going.

Now, Mr. Cumberledge,

he put me in charge to fetch him back some good men,

and that's what I aim to do is fetch him back some good men.

I don't want no polly-foxing around,

no hoo-hawing and hoo-rahing and trouble making.

-Why don't you shut your mouth, Festus, and get going?

[ Laughter ]

-Who said that?

Which one of you said that?

Somebody wants to get his ears pinched off!

-Arnie, was that...

Matthew. -Festus.

-We -- we just a-fixing to ride over to your office there

and let you know we're -- we're heading out.

-Now, do you know what to tell Luke Cumberledge?

-Oh, yeah, yeah. To hold the main herd just south

of Abe Johnson's place, yeah. -That's right.

And when he gets here, he's to see me,

and we'll make arrangements for loading the cattle

and bringing his boys into town.

-It's like it's writ across my eyeballs, Matthew.

You ain't got nothing to fret about.

-All right, Festus.

Take care of yourself.

-Just like a shoat in a coal bin, Matthew.

This here kind of thing just sharpens up my teeth.

I'll guarantee it.

All right, now, is everybody on?

Bring my mule over here.

Is everybody setting there that's fixing to go?

Come on, Ruth. Get up here.

Come on. All right.

Now, I want y'all to try to keep up with me, now.

I don't want no lolly-gagging and hanging behind or nothing.

Everybody ready?

Follow me! Yo!

-See you at the Long Branch when you get back.

-Morning, Matt.

-John.

I was, uh, coming by to see you later.

-Oh? -Well,

we didn't have much of a chance to talk.

-I thought we had a pretty good talk.

-You know what I mean, John.

The only time you ever come to Dodge is at the head of a herd.

-That's true.

-What's going on between you and Luke?

-Oh, same as always.

-About what I figured.

-I don't reckon it's ever going to be any different, Matt.

-There's one thing different, John.

-What's that?

-Them.

-Blair Smith?

-John, I never knew either you

or Luke to use professional gunfighters.

-Whoa up there, Matt.

I ain't got no dealing with the likes of them.

-That straight?

-Has it ever been anything else between you and me?

-Well, all I know is they're not in town for the scenery.

-Well, maybe he's waiting for Luke.

Oh, I know how you feel about Luke

just like I know what's between you and me.

Well, if he drove those cattle over to Wichita,

you wouldn't be caught in the middle of this thing.

But he didn't. -John, I just don't want

any part of your feud spilling over into this town.

-If there's any trouble, Matt, it's going to be Luke's doing,

and that's my word.

-If there's any trouble, I'm gonna sit heavy on both of you,

and that's my word.

♪

♪

[ Cows mooing ]

-[ Whistles ]

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Yo!

-Scroungy little critters.

Phew!

[ Spits ]

-Tell Bresman to hold that second section back!

-Yeehaw!

-Grayson, take this bunch on for another hour!

-Obliged.

-Festus, pull something up and sit down.

-Tell you the truth, Mr. Cumberledge,

I don't feel too much like sitting.

Phew!

I thought this here day wasn't never going to quit.

-Well, you're not kicking about being worked too hard, are you?

-Kicking don't get you no place unless you're a mule.

Well, the roundup's about over

and the ropes are getting short, ain't it?

-Yeah.

Just about 30 more miles to Dodge.

-Of course, it ain't but 'bout a day and a half

to Abe Johnson's place.

-Festus, I told you we had all that out.

-No, we ain't neither, Mr. Cumberledge.

Now, all you said

was you wasn't a-fixing to stop at Abe Johnson's place,

and all I said was that Matthew said that you're supposed to.

That's all. -Well, it doesn't make sense.

Now, why does Matt want me to stop short of town?

-I done told you that.

He wants to set down and palaver with you

some about turning your cowpunchers loose

in Dodge all at the same once.

See, each of these wildies of yours,

once they get into Dodge,

now, they're gonna take a heap of watching.

And if you just let 'em come in a little dab at a time,

why, it'd be easier to keep an eyeball on 'em.

Now, I'll guarantee you, that's all there is to it.

-All right. I'll set the herd

down where you say and have that talk with Matt.

But if you're lying to me...

-Mr. Cumberledge, if you knowed us Haggens,

you would never say such a thing as that.

It's like my great-uncle Harkel used to say --

"You catch a Haggen in a lie,

and a thunderbolt will strike him from the clear, blue sky."

-Whatever happened to great-uncle Harkel?

-Well, some that says that this here thunderstorm

come up all a sudden like...

♪

-Now, hi, there, misses.

-Yeah, boy? -Can I offer you a drink?

-I wouldn't want to run you short.

-Well, I'd be willing to sacrifice for the likes of you.

-Oh, would you now?

-Come on, just a little one to be social.

-No, thank you.

-Well, you sell it.

You mean it ain't fittin' enough for you.

-It is.

-You've just been put down, Blair.

-Hi, Kitty.

-John. -Hey, Sam.

Bring us a couple beers, will you?

Hey! Oh.

Ah.

Ah, looks good, Sam.

Hope it's cold. -It is.

-Hear, hear.

-Mr. Charron. -Ah!

Oh, what you doing up here up in here in Dodge, Smith?

-Me and the boys thought we'd might offer you a hand.

-Oh, no, I reckon not. -Hmm.

From what we heard down in the strip,

'bout what Luke Cumberledge done to you back in Texas,

figured you'd come in to even the score.

-Nobody asked you to sit.

-Hey, by golly, he's right.

-Well, we -- Boys and me were coming up here anyhow.

-Oh, well, that's good.

Won't be a waste of your time then, will it?

-You mean, you don't want us?

-That's right.

-Could maybe have a little talk with Luke Cumberledge.

-Yeah, now, you go do that for all of me.

-Well, what I hear, Cumberledge got nearly 30 drovers...

-Well, maybe more, too, yeah.

-Seems as though you could use a little help.

-Hey, hello there, Matt.

Say, I thought you had a law against peddling in this saloon.

-Peddling what?

-Well, Smith here's trying to peddle the only thing

he's ever had to sell. -All right, Smith.

I want you out of town. -What do you mean?

-You've got 10 minutes to saddle up.

-You've got no call to...

-You've got 10 minutes!

-Now, you hold on, Dillon.

-You just give me a reason. I'd like one, mister.

-Matt, what you all shook up about?

I told you I wasn't buying.

-John, it's what's between you and Luke that's brought him

and his kind to Dodge.

-Well, Blair?

-He ain't buying.

-You mean, we took us a long ride for nothing?

-One of these days, I'm gonna kill me a marshal.

-Whoa!

-Why don't you look where you're going, knothead?

You're not in your cornfield now.

-Wasn't me that wasn't watching where I was going, cowboy.

-Well, just kick some of that manure out of your boots

and you'll be able to get around better.

-Now, hold on, now!

-Get out of my way, farmer!

-Hold it right there!

All right.

Now, the rest of you get out of here right now.

Get him over to Percy's.

♪

-Hyah!

-[ All talking at once ]

-I can't tell you nothing.

-That's enough now.

I want you all to move along.

Break it up and move along now. Come on.

-Matthew, they'll be at Abe Johnson's place

in a couple hours.

Cumberledge, he'll be waiting out yonder to jaw

with you like you said.

-Sure. -Matthew,

there's a pot a-brewing betwixt Cumberledge and Charron.

Did you know that?

-Well, I figured something like it.

-I figured you'd ought to know that I've done give him my word.

-Well, welcome home, Festus.

I reckon the herd's in.

-Well, that's right, John.

-Yeah, well, I got a little something here that's gonna

have a bearing on that.

-I figured you would.

-I'm afraid you're gonna have to deal with me

when it comes to that herd. -What?

-Yeah, I already straightened it out with the cattle buyers.

They -- they verified those papers.

-Well, Matthew, he said...

-It looks like Luke overextended himself.

It will take him years to pay off those notes.

His creditors knew that.

They jumped at my deal.

-You bought up all his notes?

-That's right.

30 cents on the dollar.

I'm gonna take that herd as payment.

-Well, now, wait a minute.

It says here, a price of $20,000.

Now, if he's got as many cows as they say he does,

why, there'll be five times that much money.

-That other paper, the one just underneath there,

that's a court order.

It's binding in Kansas.

It says the cattle are mine,

and Luke can't sell them at any price.

-Well, just hold on, now.

-Wait a minute, Festus. -Wait?

My Aunt Phoebe's tea cozy.

I done give Luke my word!

-I know it, but just hold on, now.

John, this is a pretty raw deal.

-A raw deal?

What do you call his blocking the only trail out of my valley?

Cutting off my water supply,

and forcing me to sell my cattle at his price, huh?

-He did that to you?

-That's right.

I'm sorry that you're in the middle of this thing.

But, Matt, you've got no choice.

You've got to serve those papers.

-John, you know as well I do,

he's not gonna hold still for this without a fight.

-Well, fighting ain't going to do him no good, Matt.

-Well, he'll catch fire quicker than last year's haystack.

I'll guarantee you that. -Well,

then somebody's just gonna have to put his fire out, Festus.

-Yeah, and they're gonna use this town and me to do it.

-Well, I'm sorry. But he was the one

that drove that herd here.

And you and I both know he ain't gonna change his plans.

-I suppose this country

needed men like you and Luke to settle it.

But I'll tell you something --

Right now, I'd sell you both for a bag of salt.

♪

-Festus is riding in.

He's got somebody with him.

-That'll be Matt Dillon.

Get your night watch set.

Like as not, we'll be moving on in the morning.

-Aye.

-Hello, Luke.

-Matt, you old mossback.

Well, you sure timed it right.

Chow's on.

Cookie, bring a couple of plates.

-Oh, no, thanks, Luke. -Well, you've got to eat.

-Well, I -- I'm not too hungry. -Festus,

you sure made good time. -Yes, sir.

I --I did make pretty good time, all right.

-Listen, I want you to know,

it ain't the easiest for me and my boys

just to be a-sitting out here after spending three months

on the trail. -Well, I know, Luke.

I'm sorry to have to do that to you.

-It's good to see you again, Matt.

-Good to see you, too, Luke.

I, uh, hate to tell you this,

but I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you.

-What kind of bad news?

-I take my oath.

If I'd a-knowed this, I'd a-had you turn your herd east.

-Turn them east?

-Yeah, it's -- it's John Charron, Luke.

-John Charron? What's he got to do with it?

-You two will never quit, will you?

Looks to me like it's a checkmate this time.

-I borrowed this money from half a dozen men.

Not from him!

I'll pay it back to them that loaned it to me.

-Luke, he's bought up all your notes.

The whole thing is legal.

He can demand payment on them anytime,

just like you agreed in the original loan.

-I agreed to that with a bunch of men I knew wouldn't push me.

I'll pay off as soon as I sell my cattle.

-They're not your cattle anymore.

They're Charrons. -Charron's?

You'll see me dead first, or Charron.

One or the other.

-I don't like to be in a spot like this, Luke.

But it was my job to deliver that paper,

and it will be my job to keep the peace.

-Matt, I hate to put you in the middle,

but I've got a legal right to bring these cattle into Dodge

and I'm gonna bring 'em in.

I'll get my money from the cattle buyer.

-You don't have a contract with him.

-Why, that thieving, conniving...

-Well, now, wait a minute. What about your

buying up the right-of-way out of Charron's valley

and refusing to water his cattle?

-Well, that was absolutely legal.

-Well, so is this.

-You just give the word, Mr. Cumberledge,

and we'll stop all this nonsense.

-Matt, when you get back to Dodge,

you tell that cattle buyer I'll be in midday tomorrow

to finish my deal.

-Now, Luke, there's a judge and there's lawyers in Wichita.

-I don't need no judges, lawyers or Wichita.

These are my cattle, and I'm gonna make my sale.

Now, you heard me, Matt.

We're coming in tomorrow.

I hope you're gonna do what's right,

not what John Charron wants you to.

♪

[ Drum beats ]

[ Bugle plays off-key ]

-We'll all ready for them, Marshal.

This is gonna be the biggest day Dodge City ever had.

We'll surely get on the map,

shipping all them cattle back east.

-Well, it's gonna be a big day, all right, Mr. Halligan.

Festus, get Doc and some others to help you.

Make sure everybody gets the word.

-I'll do it, Matthew.

Now, listen here, you fellers.

Tonight, I want all of you to stay off the streets,

you hear me now?

-Well?

-Well, what? -Well, how'd he take it?

-How do you figure he took it?

-Yeah, I knew it. The hard-head.

I just knew it. -You sound like you're pleased.

-You can put that in the bank.

-You know, John, I get the feeling the only thing

you're living for is to destroy Luke Cumberledge.

-That's right.

-Even if you have to destroy this town along with it?

-Well, not if he won't fight.

-John, I'm gonna ask you one more time.

Give this thing up.

Ride out of here before Luke gets to town.

-Matt, the law is on my side,

and I'm gonna stand behind it.

Now, he just intends to ride roughshod right on over me.

-John. -I've told you before,

I've got a dozen good men with me.

Used to be my ranch hands.

Now, you deputize them,

and they'll take care of Luke Cumberledge and his bunch.

-They're not gonna back off. You know that.

-Well, I'll buy 'em off.

Pay 'em their wages, give 'em a good bonus.

-He's got men that have been with him from the old days.

They can't be bought off any more than your men could.

-Matt, I want my cattle back.

-You know, I can just read the epitaph.

John Charron, man that opened the Charron Trail.

-Mnh-mnh.

The man who broke Luke Cumberledge.

♪

-It sure is quiet.

-Well, it's been like this ever since the marshal

got back from talking to Luke Cumberledge.

-Oh. Draw one, will you, Sam?

-Sure, Mr. Charron.

-Well, Mr. Laskin.

Won't be long before you're gonna have hoes and horns

as high a June hay mound. Thanks.

-Biggest buy I've ever been in on, Mr. Charron.

-Best price you ever got, too,

I'll wager.

-Tell me, what Luke Cumberledge is gonna do

doesn't worry you. -No.

Why, does it worry you?

-From all I've heard about him, he's not one to underestimate.

-You're right about that.

I'll tell you what you do.

You go over to your hotel and lock yourself in your room.

You stay right there till this is all over,

and then you come look me and up

and we'll do a little cattle selling.

-I'll tell you this -- I ain't gonna be in that street

when he rides in.

♪

-Matt, uh, deep down, there, uh, was a touch of guilt.

I won't deny that.

-There was, huh?

-Yeah, but not enough to make me turn my back on this.

But just enough...

Well, I mean, this being your town and all...

I went out there on the street in midday and it was deserted.

It's still deserted.

Is that the way your townspeople treat you

when there's a threat of trouble?

-They're just following my orders.

-You're gonna handle this alone, huh?

-Festus will be with me.

-And you talk to me about being stubborn.

-Can't very well turn my back on it, John.

-Matt, this is between Luke and me.

-I wish that was true.

-[ Yells ]

Matthew!

Matthew, they're coming in!

Cumberledge has got his herd pulled up just outside of town.

He's riding in with a posse of men.

-Matt!

-Mr. Charron, anything happens to Matthew out yonder,

you better make sure that I'm stretched out right beside him.

Because, if I ain't,

I'm gonna get after you like thunder after lightning.

I'll take an oath on that.

♪

-Matt, my herd's just outside of town.

I'm ready to do business with that Chicago cattle buyer.

-Luke, I want you to take your men, turn around

and ride out of here.

-You'd better get that bunch out of our way

'cause we're comin' through.

-Luke, I beat you fair.

Now, be man enough to admit it.

Gettin' your men all shot up ain't gonna help nothing.

-These boys made their decision before we left Texas.

-My hand's got a stake in this, too, if it's a fight

that you're looking for.

-You know, I never knew either of you boys

to let somebody else do your dirty work for you.

-What are you saying, Matt?

-I'm saying the both of you are standing behind other men's guns

right now.

-Maybe you'd better straighten that out for me.

-Yeah, me too.

-All right.

I'm saying there was a time when Charron and Cumberledge

could settle their own differences without having

to kill off the men that are working for them.

-Now, you're not gonna stop this thing, Matt,

so you might as well quit jawing.

-All right, but I'll tell you one thing.

If a shootout starts here,

you two are gonna be the first ones to go down.

-At least he won't be gettin' my herd.

-I'll buy two tickets to Hades for the chance to beat him.

-All right. Two tickets, fine.

But what about the rest of these men?

You gonna take 'em with you?

-I don't need these men to help me beat him.

-I sure don't need nobody to help me whomp you!

The only thing's gonna be needed around here is somebody

to bury your carcass.

-You men, clear away.

-Holtz!

Get 'em over there out of the way.

-All right. Hold on here.

I don't want anybody else mixed up in this.

I want all you boys to take your guns off, right now.

Just pile 'em right over here.

-All right, you heard him! Give the deputy a hand.

-Get to it.

-Get 'em out of here. Come on.

Hurry it up.

-Pile 'em right here, boys.

All right, get those horses off the street.

-All right, come on. Get them gun belts off.

Get 'em in here. Hurry it up.

Hurry it up. Everybody.

Get 'em up here. Do like Matthew says.

Now, get 'em in here.

Hurry it up. Hurry it up.

-Anytime, Matt.

-You boys have come a long way to this.

-Yeah, a long way.

-Now, I'll tell you something.

I never knew a gun to be the measure of a man.

-I don't need no gun to take care of the likes of him.

-I sure don't need one.

[ Men yelling indistinctly ]

-Get up!

-Piece of cake, Mr. Charron.

Easy as licking your mama's frosting.

-Thataboy. Come on.

-You was right as churchgoing.

You didn't need no help from us, Mr. Charron.

-Hold it there!

♪

-They're sure gonna need you, Doc.

-Looks like it.

♪

-As soon as I get my wind, I'm gonna finish you.

-If you need a rest, you take it.

I'll wait.

-You don't know it, but you're beat.

-Not nearly, I ain't.

-Come on, break it up.

I guess you two still haven't learned anything, have you?

-Oh, Matthew...

-All right. You're coming with me,

right now, both of you. -Oh, no, Matt.

-You just leave us here a minute, Matt.

-Wait a minute, Matt. -You're going in here.

Now you both sit down.

Give us a bottle, will you, Sam?

Now, I want to ask you boys something.

Did you learn anything from what happened out there?

-Well, he learned that on his best day,

he couldn't whip me.

-Well, all you did was kick up a lot of dust showing something.

-Well, all right. Now, let me tell you something.

That's all you boys have been doing for the last 10 years

is kicking up a lot of dust.

Neither one of you held the other one down

for any length of time.

-Yeah, well, that may be true, but I'll tell you one thing...

-Well, now, let me tell you something.

Did you ever stop to think instead of wasting all that time

fighting each other,

you'd be a whole lot better off forming a partnership.

-A partnership.

-Him and me?

-That's right, why not? -Ah!

-Well, because he'd, uh, well, he'd...

-He'd what?

Luke?

-Well, Matt, sometimes you... I swear, you --

you talk like you're addled.

-Well, you just give me one good reason, either of you.

-Well, you give me a little time.

I'll think of one. -That's right.

He'll think of one. -All right.

And I'll tell you, in the meantime,

we'll just have a little drink and talk it over.

-Well, that's a good idea. I'll tell you.

-All right. There you are.

-Well, Luke, I -- I'm fried if I can think of one reason.

Excepting, of course, you can't fight worth a lick.

-It may be a good idea

just to have you around once in a while to pound on.

-I might make a mark for myself in this country

if I didn't have to spend all my time

making sure he didn't swindle me out of something.

-Tell me something, Charron.

Can you drink any better than you can fight?

-Now, you come to the right place.

You just pour that drink, boy.

Yeah, I'll still be right here on my feet

when they lug you out through there.

-Watch that spillage there, boy.

-Yeah, sure.

-Go on, drink up there.

That's good.

-Want me to look them over, Matt?

-No, we'd better leave them alone for awhile, Doc.

It looks like maybe they're settling things

after all these years.

-There's only one problem.

-What's that?

-I may run out of whiskey.

-Miss Kitty, bring us another bottle.

This ain't going to last long.

-Bring us two bottles.

♪

-Stay tuned for scenes from next week's "Gunsmoke."

♪